Means for scraping spiral elements



Nov. 23 1926.

A. WICKEY MEANS FOR SCRAPING SPIRAL EIJEMENTS Filed Dec. 28. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ANDREW W/CKEY,

Nov. 23 1926. 1,607,713

A. WICKEY MEANS FOR SCRAPING SPIRAL EIJEMENTS Filed Dec. 1.925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gvwento'a attoz mug Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

' UNITED STATES ANDREW WICKEY, OF EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA.

MEANS FOR SCRAIING SPIRAL ELEMENTS.

Application filed December 28, 1925.

My invention relates to means for scrap ing the spiral agitating or mixing element of a machine for mixing concrete, mortar or the like.

Attempts have heretofore been made to mix concrete, mortar or the like, by a spiral agitating or mixing element, the same being arranged horizontally. It has been found that the material adheres to the forward face of the spiral element, to such an extent, that the operation of the machine is seriously impaired. As far as I am aware, no automatic means has been provided to properly scrape the face of this spiral conveyor.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a scraping element, which is supported in a position to engagewith the spiral blade of the conveyor or agitator, and while it scrapes this blade, is fed or propelled longitudinally of the machine, by such engagement. When the discharge end of the spiral conveyor is reached, the scraping element is automatically disengaged from the spiral blade, and returned. to the starting position, where it again engages the spiral blade, to be-ted longitudinally by it.

I have illustrated my scraping means as applied to amixing machine Off the type shown in my co-pending application for machine for mixing concrete or the like, filed October 6, 1925, Serial No. 60,897, but the invention is in no sense restricted to this particular use.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout. the same,

Figure l is a side elevation oi apparatus embodying my invention, showing the same in use,

Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the scraping apparatus,

Figure d is a transverse section taken on line it-52 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a similar View taken on line 5 5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a detailed side elevation of the track,

Figure 7 is an end elevation of a modified form of the invention, I

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the same, and,

Figure 9 is a detail section through the scraper and conveyor blade.

Serial N0. 77,962.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a mixing casing or trough which is curved in cross section, as shown. This oasing or trough is stationary and is supported by any suitable means, such as, by uprights 6. The casing or trough 5 is inclined with respect to the horizontal, and extends upwardly toward its discharge end.

Rigidly attached to the lower intake end of the casing or trough 5 is a sand and gravel hopper 7. Arranged in advance of this hopper 7 is a cement hopper 8.

Arranged within the casing or trough 5 is a feeding and mixing spiral or screw conveyor 10, which extends throughout the entire length of the trough and projects into the hopper 7.

The upper discharge end of the casing or trough 5 is provided in its bottom with a discharge opening let, leading into a chute 1,5.

The numeral lb designates a water tank, arranged above the upper discharge end of the trough or casing 5, and having connection at its bottom with an outlet pipe 17, which extends longitudinally of the top of the casing or trough 5, for a suitable distance. The pipe 17 is apertured and is preterably parallel with the longitudinal axis of the spiral conveyor, and is arranged adjacent to one side of the trough, so that it will not interfere with the action of the scraping element. The purpose of the pipe 17 is to supply water to the previously mixed dry 1naterials, whereby the wet mass is completely mixed prior to being discharged from the casing or trough.

The spiral conveyor is driven by a gear 18, which is driven by a motor 2%.

The cement is fed from the hopper 8 by feed valve 241, which is intermittently actuated.

No further detailed description of the mixing machine is thought to be necessary, as a more complete description is to be found in my pending application, Serial No. 60,897, and further this machine is simply shown to illustrate the application of the scraping means, which constitutes the present invention.

The scraping means embodies a guide rod or track 30, which is circular in cross section, and may have its ends bent at a right angle, to provide transverse 81, which are rigidly attached to the casing or trough n 1 a. u

5. The guide rod or track 30 is parallel with the trough 5, and is, therefore, inclined, in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive. Loosely mounted upon the guide track 30, to turn thereon, and to travel longitudinally thereof, is a carriage 32, preferably in the form of a weight. This carriage has an i..-shaped scraping element 33, rigidly attached there to. at 31 This scraping element has its blade 35, preferably twisted, so that it may be positioned at substantially a right angle to the front face of the spiral blade 10 the spiral conveyor. It might be stated at this point, that the scraping element starts at the lower end of the inclined guide track 30 and operates in engagement with the spiral blade 10, and is propelled longitudinally of the track by the action of the spiral blade.

Arranged above the guide track 30, in spaced relation thereto, is a control track 36, supported by curved brackets 37, whichmay be rigidly attached to the trough 5. Tl11S control track is adapted to co-act with the guide element or roller 38, pivoted upon a curved overhanging arm 39, which is rigidly mounted upon the scraping element 33, as indicated at 40. As clearly shown in Figure 5, the curved overhanging arm affords suflicient space between the roller 38 and scraping element 33, whereby the control track 36, may pass therebetween.

Means are provided to positively return the roller 38 beneath the control track, when the scraping element has reached its lowermost position, comprising a track extension 41, pivoted at one edge to the control track, at L2, to swing horizontally with relation thereto. The adjacent ends of the control track and track extension, are preferably cut diagonally. This track extension 41 is provided with a trip flange or angle iron 43, rigidly secured to its upper surface, and angularly disposed thereon, in the path of travel of the roller 38, when'the roller descends upon the top of the control track 36. A compressible spring serves to normally retain the track extension 4-1 in the closed position, whereby it forms a continuation of the control track 36.

In the operation of this form of the scraping means, when the scraping element 33 is in the rearmost position, it will engage with the front face of the spiral blade 10 which is rotating counter-clockwise, Figure i, and will be propelled forwardly thereby. The roller 38 will be guided by the closed track extension ll, beneath the control track 36, and hence the scraping element 33 will be retained in the lowered scraping positiomas it is propelled forwardly toward the dis charge end of the conveyor. When the scraping element reaches the discharge end of the spiral conveyor, the roller 38 clears the forward end of the control track 36, and the ac tion of the rotating spiral conveyor and the material agitated thereby throws the scraping element 33 outwardly, whereby the rollor 38 is moved to a position to engage with the top of the control track. The scraping element is thereby supported and the weight of the carriage 32 causes the carriage and the scraping element to gravitate to the rear end of the inclined control track, whereby the roller 38 will engage the inclined flange 43, and swing the track extension ll laterally upon its pivot. The roller 38 will then travel oil of the end of the control track 36, and will drop therefrom, and the traclrextension il will spring over the roller, and guide it beneath the control tracl; 36. It might be explained that the spiral conveyor feeds the material upwardly, and there is a tendency for the material to drop back, which effects a thorough mixing. More of the dry material drops baclr than of the wet material, as the wet mix tends to stick to the spiral blade 10. Hence, the elevation of the mix is highest adjacent to the discharge end of the conveyor, and considerably lower adjacent to the lowermost position of the scraper. The mix will, therefore, function to throw the scraping element upwardly, when it reaches its uppermost position, but the elevation of the mix "n the trough is such that the scraper may gravitate to the lowered position, when it approaches its lowermost position, and the roller 38 will assume a position at an elevation beneath the track extension il, as explained.

As shown in Figures '7 and 8, T coniem plate arranging the trough 5 horizontal, in stead of inclined, and the tracks 30 and will be horizontal. The carriage 32 cannot then gravitate to the starting position, and to effect the return movement of the carri ge it is necessary to attach thereto a cable it, passed about a pulley 46 and carrying a weight 47. One end of the cable is iii-1e at 47. I may also use a spring to return the carriage, instead of a weight, and it may be advisable, under certain working conditions. to provide some positive return means for the carriage 32, even when its guide track is inclined, to supplement the action of gravity. In the present illustration, the pipe 17 supplies water to the upper portion only of the spiral conveyor, and does not extend throughout the entire length of the spiral conveyor. It is only necessary to scrape that portion of the spiral conveyor which is act ing upon the wet mix, and for this reason I have shown my scraping element as acting upon only a portion of the length of the spiral blade 10 It is, of course, to be understood that the scraping element may act upon the entire length of the spiral conveyor, which would be desirable if the spiral conveyor had its entire length acting upon a wet mix, and the only change necessary would be to form the guide and control tracks 30 and 36 sufliciently long, to permit the scraping element to engage with the spiral blade 10 throughout substantially its entire length.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, may be re sorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a mixing mechanism including a rotatable spiral conveyor, of a scraping element adapted to engage with the spiral conveyor, supporting means for the scraping element so that the scraping element may travel longitudinally of the spiral conveyor, and means to retain the scraping element in close relation to the spiral conveyor and to release the scraping element so that it can be shifted from the spiral conveyor and returned to the starting position.

2. The combination with a mixing mechanism including a rotatable spiral conveyor, a scraping element arranged to engage with the spiral conveyor, guide means extendin longitudinally of the spiral conveyor and supporting the scraping element so that it may travel longitudinally of the spiral conveyor, means for retaining the scraping element in close relation to the spiral conveyor until it has been shifted by the spiral conveyor to a point near the discharge end of the spiral conveyor and for then releasing the scraping element so that it may be shifted from the spiral conveyor, and means whereby the scraping element is returned to the starting position after it has been shifted from the spiral conveyor.

3. The combination with. a mixing mechanism including a rotatable spiral conveyor, oil? a guide track extending longitudinally of the spiral conveyor, a scraping element mounted upon the guide track to travel longitudinally thereof and adapted to engage the spiral conveyor, and means to prevent the lateral movement of the scraping element away from the spiral conveyor until the scraping element has reached a selected longitudinal position.

4. The combination with a mixing mechanism including a rotatable spiral conveyor, of a guide track extending longitudinally of the spiral conveyor, a scraping element mounted upon the guide track to move longitudinally thereof, a control track extending longitudinally of the spiral conveyor, and a guide element connected with the scraping element and adapted to engage the control track.

5. The combination with a mixing mechanism including a rotatable spiral conveyor, of a guide track extending longitudinally of the spiral conveyor, a scraping element pivotally and longitudinally movably mounted upon the guide track, and means to control the pivotal movement of the scraping element.

6. A track extending longitudinally of a spiral conveyor included in mixing mechanism, a scraping element movable laterally and longitudinally of the track, a control track extending longitudinally of the spiral conveyor, a guide element connected with the scraping element and adapted to engage the control track, and means to shift the guide element to one side of the control track.

7. The combination with mixing mechanism including a spiral conveyor, a scraping element arranged to engage the spiral conveyor and to be ted longitudinally of the spiral conveyor by such engagement, and automatic means for retaining scraping ele ment in inner and outer positions with relation to the spiral conveyor.

8. The combination with mixing mechanism including a spiral conveyor, of a scrap ing element arranged to engage the spiral conveyor and to be fed longitudinally of the spiral conveyor by such engagement, and

automatic means for effecting the lateral movement of the scraping element with relation to the spiral conveyor.

9. The combination with a mixing mechanism including a continuous spiral conveyor, of a scraping element arranged to engage the continuous spiral conveyor at a point remote from its discharge end and to be ted bodily longitudinally of the continuous spiral conveyor solely by such engagement therewith from said remote point to a point near the discharge end of the spiral conveyor.

10. The combination with a mixing mechanism including a rotatable spiral conveyor, of a scraping element supported near the spiral conveyor in a manner to permit the same moving bodily longitudinally of the spiral conveyor and to also partake of a radial movement with relation thereto.

11. The combination with mixing mechanism including a rotatable spiral conveyor, a scraping element, means to support the scraping element so that it may move bodily longitudinally of the spiral conveyor and be. shifted laterally away from the same, and means to hold the scraping element against outward lateral movement with relation to the spiral conveyor and to release the same when it approaches the discharge end of thespiral conveyor and to support the same in the outer position so that it may return to the starting position.

12. The combination with mixing mecha nism including a rotatable spiral conveyor,

lilii of a scraping element to co-act with the spiral conveyor and be fed longitudinally thereby means to support the scraping element so that it may move 101' tndinaliy of the spiral conveyor and laterally and outwardly with relation thereto, such lateral and outward movement being effected b the accumulated material near the discharge end of the spiral conveyor, and means tor sup,- porting the scraping element when it is shifted to the outer position so that it may be returned to the starting position.

13. The combination with the spiraltom. veyor of mixing mechanism, of a scraping element, means to, support the scraping element so that it may move longitudinally of the spiral conveyor and also partake otlateral movement with relationthereto, and means for controlling. such lateral movement.

14. An inclinedtrack extending longitudinally of a spiral conveyor, a weighted carriage mounted upon the track to gravitate to the lower end of the inclined tlzlCK, and a scraping element carried by the carriage.

15-An inclined track extending loin' dinally of-a spiral conveyor, a weighted carriage mounted upon the track, a scraping element connected with the carriage, and means for retaining the scraping element out of engagement withthe spira-lconveyor.

16. A track extending longitudinally of a spiral conveyor, a carriage mounted upon the track and having means whereby it will automatically move to one end of the track,

and a sc 'apingelcmcnt connected with the carriage.

In testimony \vhereol" l affix my signature.

ANDREXV WICKE 1''. 

